Callaway Fitting Technician for the North East region

Direct Golf is the No.2 Retailer in golf with 20 retail stores in the UK and a strong E-Commerce platform.With a recent investment from SDI to facilitate growth, I was head hunted to join the board by the CEO of Direct Golf, to bring professionalism, structure and experience to all areas of the business, with particular responsibility for the buying function.Responsibilities and Achievements• Responsible for all domestic and international buying across all categories in the business• The ongoing development of 5 own label brands• Constructed and presented weekly, monthly and annual trading budgets to the other board members• Effectively changed and put together a cohesive, effective buying and merchandising team• Instigated the implementation of range rationalisation down to sub category level to reduce cost and improve overall efficiency.• Initiated detailed category reporting for increased visibility, to train and guide the team into making well informed buying decisions• Coaching, training and development of my team, to meet a high level of buying and merchandising standards• Key contributor to creating a more corporate culture• Took ownership of all the major brand strategic partnerships• Negotiated and agreed all trading terms and major clearance deal opportunities• Brought buying, marketing and finance together to ensure a co-ordinated and aligned approach to all aspects of business

American Golf is the No.1 Retailer of golf with over 100 stores in the UK. My role was Category Manager for golf clubs, the largest category generating circa £50m of revenue.Responsibilities and Achievements• Negotiated trading terms and cost prices with all suppliers in relation to clubs• Developed and enhanced supplier relationships in order to incorporate their brand strategies into the business• Formulated annual category management plans and had input into the budget planning with the Commercial Director/CEO and Finance Director• Driving sales and maximising profitability in the clubs category• Responsible for making all ranging and buying decisions relating to clubs• Responsible for the ongoing development of own brand clubs• Responsible for presenting to the board at the weekly trade meetings, monthly and year end category reviews• Worked closely with the Merchandising, Marketing and Finance functions, to ensure a fully integrated approach and joined up thinking in relation to the clubs category and delivery of the overall business strategy• Instigated SMU/end of line products to run on at volume selling price points in most sub categories, to coincide with customer trends and demands• Consistently sourced and found multiple product offers to support the SKY TV campaigns, an integral part of the business strategy • Worked with H.R on all staff recruitment, inductions, staff appraisals and ongoing training of my team

Following the acquisition of Sports Division in 1998 by JJB, in which they inherited a golf business worth circa £15m at retail. I was asked to join a small team to assist with the integration and deliver the growth plans for golf within the No.1 Sports Retailer at that time. JJB turnover at its peak was circa £1.1b with profits in excess of £110m.Responsibilities and Achievements• Part of a small, highly motivated team we were responsible for the integration of a growing golf business into the larger JJB corporate business structure. • Involved in all aspects of the retail golf business, from buying to in-store merchandising, marketing initiatives, customer services and staff training for 200 plus retail stores• Formed strong working relationships with all suppliers, focused around building long term robust strategic partnerships, to maximise our sales and margin opportunity with each brand.• From 2005 onwards I became responsible for all own brand development. This involved the designing and continuity of bringing two complete product ranges to market, comprising of clubs, equipment, apparel and footwear.• I managed the ranging, sourcing, purchasing and retail price architecture plus all overseas inventory stock flow for the golf division own brand proposition.• Own brand consistently grew every year becoming a significant part of the JJB golf business sales mix • In September 1998 we inherited a golf business generating circa £15m of sales revenue and by 2007/08 we were contributing circa £40m.

Mitsushiba Golf was an exciting, small golf manufacturer based out of Heywood, Lancashire. At its peak it reached an annual turnover of circa £5m. I started as an Office Sales Executive and was promoted to Office Sales Manager within 2 years